Staff
The Meaford Hospital gardens are looking even better with the help of Horticulturalist and Landscape Designer Bette Sweatman along with Rob Dube of Georgian Bay Landscaping and Property Maintenance.
Seen in the photo above, Rob and Jordyn Bishop are helping to enlarge the main bed, removing sod and making way for new plantings under the watchful eye of Bette and Pat Parsons. Pat is the founder and guiding force of the hospital garden project.
Bette Sweatman is new to Meaford. She spied the hospital gardens when she had a stay there. When Bette realized this was an all-volunteer effort, she offered her expert help, and Rob Dube stepped up when he heard the hospital gardeners needed help with some heavy work. Knights’ Home Building Centre provided the sod cutting machine.
Bette Sweatman holds a special place in her heart for the work of the garden volunteers. “The Hospital Garden Committee keep these gardens looking healthy and interesting for all citizens to enjoy in their coming and going from the hospital. Not only do they contribute their personal time and effort to this ongoing community beautification initiative, they work together, helping each other every step of the way. They simply go about their business of garden helpers and they get it done properly.”
Under Bette’s expert eye, the volunteers are revitalizing the gardens.
“I am privileged to be associated with this very fine, knowledgeable group of horticultural citizens. With my academic and business background in horticultural science and landscape design, I hope to continue to offer a little flare and colour interest through plant material augmentation in this revitalization of the Hospital Gardens Project. It has been my experience and albeit, not always easy to stay on the intended course, when citizens bring their commitment, their skills and interest together with a common goal to make a difference, they effect a positive change in the community. Also, and equally important, those that personally engage in this process become more enriched citizens as a result of this participation.”
The garden volunteers have raised money for this project by holding plant sales in the spring. The funds from the sales will go to buying new plants, trees, and shrubs.
Watch for next year’s plant sale in June. And – watch for new blooms in the gardens next season.
Photo: Rob Dube, Jordyn Bishop, Pat Parsons and Bette Sweatman work on the gardens.
